textproduct: Amarillo

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 159 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

- Heat continues for the next several days. - Chance of thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon/early evening

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Wednesday night) Issued at 159 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

A few higher based cumulus clouds are noted on satellite imagery at midday just to the north of Amarillo. Otherwise clear skies and breezy southwesterly winds gusting between 25-30kt are noted at mid day over the area. Temperatures are on the way to 100 or above in most areas. A Heat Advisory continues over roughly the eastern half of the Panhandles and temps at mid day are already 103 to 104 in Collingsworth County.

Regional observations at mid day show low pressure in western KS with a boundary extending southwest into the northwestern OK Panhandle. With afternoon heating isolated showers/storms could develop for a short time before dissipating. Higher dewpoints/theta-e air are going to wrap around the low and behind the boundary and drop south into eastern NM and far west TX by tomorrow morning. The boundary will setup across the central panhandle area and could provide a focus for widely scattered storm development tomorrow afternoon. Other storms are forecast to form over the mountains of CO/NM and move into the northwestern panhandle areas later in the afternoon/early evening. SPC has updated their Day2 Outlook to include more of the forecast area in a Marginal Risk on Wednesday. This includes most of the OK panhandle and the northwestern TX panhandle. Forecast soundings are showing inverted V profiles to the south of the boundary while to the north of the boundary better moisture and easterly low level winds are contributing to upwards of 2000-2500 j/kg of CAPE and just over 30kt of 0-6km shear.

LONG TERM

(Thursday through next Monday) Issued at 159 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

Interesting forecast for Thursday as the heat is expected to continue. However....will need to watch for widely scattered storms as a weak shortwave approaching from the north will promote some upward motion in conjunction with a residual boundary in the area. Confidence on this scenario is not high at this time but will bear watching. The northwest half of the area should see some slightly cooler temps behind this boundary while hot temps continue to the south and east of it. Starting Friday through the weekend the mid level high pressure will expand over the mountain west region with ridging extending into southern Canada. Temps will climb a few more degrees as the heat continues and undoubtedly more heat headlines will be required during this time. Most areas will be over 100 with 105-109 in the hottest locations possible.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1220 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

Breezy conditions this afternoon as southwest winds gust to 25-30kt across the panhandles. VFR conditions expected through this forecast period with winds diminishing back to 12-14kt by early this evening. Overnight some LLWS is possible over portions of the panhandles but will subside by early Wedensday morning.

AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for TXZ004-005-008>010- 014-015-018>020-317.

OK...Heat Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for OKZ003.